Rail joint



R ,9 E l T RM1 h mmm a. EHM Ad .Re c 1 .1 .F 6. 2 9 l 5 1 e n u J 'al'. Invenbr 15 Attorney Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES CAREY E. CARTER, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO.

RAIL JOINT.

Application inea March 1, 1926. serial No. 91,498.

The present invention relates to a rail joint, and has for its principal object toprevent pounding of the ends of the rails at the joint.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of anti-pounding means at the joint of the rails, said means being adjustable to compensate for wea `which will take placertherein.

Another very important object of the invention is the provision of a rail joint of this character which is capable of being easily assembled and disassembled, one which possesses an exceedingly simple structure that is both efficient and reliable in use.

A further very important object of the invention is the provision of a device of this nature which may be manufactured inexpensively and is strong and durable, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for 'which it is designed.

Vith the above and numerous `other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of the joint embodying the features of my invention, Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the'line 3-3 vof Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an inside elevation of the improved fish plate showing a portion thereof in section.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the numerals 5 designate two rails in end to end relation in theusual well known manner. The numeral 6 denotes a conventional or any preferred form of fish plate. My improved fish plate is indicated by the numeral 7 and it is to be noted that this improved fish plate is much thicker than the conventional fish plate, and is very similar in formation thereto on the inside. The upper edge of my improved fish plate ,7, however, differs in that it is provided with a groove 8, the bottom of which is slanted downwardly and inwardly transversely.

'An elongated recess 9 is provided in the outer side of the groove 8. A bar 10 has its bottom edge beveled similarly to the bottom of the groove 8 as is indicated at 11. rl`he bottom 11 is also inclined as is indicated to advantage in Fig. 1, while the upper edge 12 is in the form of an arc. The bottom edge 11 inclines in relation to the cord of the are `of the upper edge. The lower edge is provided with teeth 13 for engaging teeth 14 in the bottom of the groove 8. The groove 8 isA wider than the bar 10 as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

The outer side of the bar 10 adjacent its bottom edge is provided with a longitudinally extending bead 15 slidable in the recess 9. The fish plates are held in engagement with the rails by the usual bolts 16 or in any 4other suitable manner.

`When the rail joint is assembled as shown, it will be seen that as the wheels pass over the space between thev adjacent ends of the rail, said wheel will be supported on the track bar 10, thereby preventing pounding at the adjacent ends of the rail. As the bar 10 wears, it may be slid from right to left, referring to Fig. 1, so as to be raised, as will be apparent, because yof the incline of the bottom of the groove 8 and the bottom edge l1 of the bar 10. In order to slide the bar 10 it is necessary to loosen the bolt 16 to a small extent so that the fish. plate 7 may be moved away from the webs of the rail. At this time the bar 10 may be moved transversely to disengage the rib 15 from the recess 9, and then the bar may be moved as desired. The bolts may then be tightened up and the bar 10 can no longer move loecause the bead 15 in the recess 9 preventsthe necessary lifting of the bar 10 so that the teeth may pass Vone another on the bar and in the bottom of the groove 8.

It is thought that the construction, utility, operation, and advantages of this invent-ion will be clearly understood without a more detailed description thereof. It is desired, however, to point out that the structure is exceedingly simple, and that one of the old fish plates may be used when the novel joint is to be assembled to take the place of an old joint, thereby saving considerable expense.

It will further be noted that the adjustment of the bar may be easily made merely by loosening up on the bolts, but when the bolts are tight, there is no danger whatsoever of the bar accidentally sliding. The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail merely by way of example, since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that numerous changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to Without departinT from the spirit or scope of the appended invention as hereinafter claimed, or sacri-V ficing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as nevv is l. In a rail joint, a fish plate having a groove in the upper edgethereof provided' at its outer side with a longitudinally extending recess, the bottom of said groove being slanted, a bar having aslanting bot-l tom edge for engaging the bottom of the groove.

Q. ln a rail joint, a fish plate having a groove in the upper edge thereof provided at its outer side With a longitudinally ei;- tending recess, the bottom .of said groove being elanted, a bar having a slanting bottom edge for engagingv the bottom of the gro-ove the bottoni oi' the groove and the bottom of the bar being provided with teeth, the Width of the groove being greater than the Width of the bar, said bar being provided With a longitudinally extending rib slidable in the recess.

3- In a rail joint, e fish plete having a groove in the upper edge thereof provided at its outer side with a longitudinally eX- tending recess, the bottom of said groove being slanted, a bar having a slanting bottomcdge for engaging the bottom of the groove, the bottom of the groove and bottom of the bar being provided with a longitudinally extending rib slidable in the recess, the 'upper edge of the bar being arcuate, and the cord of the are being disposed at an angle to the bottom edge of the bar.

4. In a rail joint oi the class described, a ish plate having its upper edge provided With a longitudinally extending groove, a bar slidable in said groove, the bottom of the groove and the bottoni edge of the bar being inclined, and means 'for normally preventing the sliding movement of the bar.

5. In a rail joint of the class described, a iish plate having its upper edge provided with a longitudinally extending groove, a bar slidable in said groove, the bottom of the groove and the bottom edge of the bar being inclined, means for normally preventing the sliding movement of the bar, the upper edge or' said bar being arcuate.

In testimony whereof I alii); my signature.

CAREY E- CARTER 

